Problem in evaluating logarithm derivatives












8














Given the property of the logarithm that $log{xy} = log{x} + log{y}$, how would one take the 'derivative' of this?



To be more clear,



$log{xy} = log{x} + log{y}$ (property of $log$)



$D(log{xy}) = D(log{x} + log{y})$ (i) (Take derivative on both sides)



Now, $D(log{x} + log{y}) = D(log{x}) + D(log{y})$ (ii) (Derivative of sum is sum of derivatives)



Combining (i) and (ii): $D(log{xy}) = D(log{x}) + D(log{y})$ (iii)



Implies: $frac{1}{xy} = frac{1}{x} + frac{1}{y}$ (Evaluate derivative of logarithm using $D(log{x}) = frac{1}{x}$



$frac{1}{xy} = frac{1}{x} + frac{1}{y}$ looks false to me; e.g. while $log{6}$ does equal $log{2} + log{3}$, $frac{1}{6}$ does not equal $frac{1}{2} + frac{1}{3}$.



My first guess was that the issue was related to what variable I take the derivative with respect to, but I'd like to understand this a little more formally if someone could guide me.



What's going wrong in this example?










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  • Like the comment above said- you can’t take derivatives with respect to all different variables and expect them to be equal.
    – MathIsLife12
    yesterday










  • (This comment was from me -- deleted when reading the fact that ayt the end of your question you acknowledged something was sketchy in the variables you differentiated with respect to. Essentially, I was saying you were "differentiating simultaneously wrt 3 variables," in different places: $xy$, $x$, $y$ -- and that's not allowed.)
    – Clement C.
    yesterday












  • Thanks guys; this clears things up! I appreciate the fast responses.
    – user2192320
    yesterday










  • After you ask a question here, if you get an acceptable answer, you should "accept" the answer by clicking the check mark $checkmark$ next to it. This scores points for you and for the person who answered your question. You can find out more about accepting answers here: How do I accept an answer?, Why should we accept answers?, What should I do if someone answers my question?.
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8














Given the property of the logarithm that $log{xy} = log{x} + log{y}$, how would one take the 'derivative' of this?



To be more clear,



$log{xy} = log{x} + log{y}$ (property of $log$)



$D(log{xy}) = D(log{x} + log{y})$ (i) (Take derivative on both sides)



Now, $D(log{x} + log{y}) = D(log{x}) + D(log{y})$ (ii) (Derivative of sum is sum of derivatives)



Combining (i) and (ii): $D(log{xy}) = D(log{x}) + D(log{y})$ (iii)



Implies: $frac{1}{xy} = frac{1}{x} + frac{1}{y}$ (Evaluate derivative of logarithm using $D(log{x}) = frac{1}{x}$



$frac{1}{xy} = frac{1}{x} + frac{1}{y}$ looks false to me; e.g. while $log{6}$ does equal $log{2} + log{3}$, $frac{1}{6}$ does not equal $frac{1}{2} + frac{1}{3}$.



My first guess was that the issue was related to what variable I take the derivative with respect to, but I'd like to understand this a little more formally if someone could guide me.



What's going wrong in this example?










share|cite|improve this question
























  • Like the comment above said- you can’t take derivatives with respect to all different variables and expect them to be equal.
    – MathIsLife12
    yesterday










  • (This comment was from me -- deleted when reading the fact that ayt the end of your question you acknowledged something was sketchy in the variables you differentiated with respect to. Essentially, I was saying you were "differentiating simultaneously wrt 3 variables," in different places: $xy$, $x$, $y$ -- and that's not allowed.)
    – Clement C.
    yesterday












  • Thanks guys; this clears things up! I appreciate the fast responses.
    – user2192320
    yesterday










  • After you ask a question here, if you get an acceptable answer, you should "accept" the answer by clicking the check mark $checkmark$ next to it. This scores points for you and for the person who answered your question. You can find out more about accepting answers here: How do I accept an answer?, Why should we accept answers?, What should I do if someone answers my question?.
    – John Doe
    yesterday














8












8








8


1





Given the property of the logarithm that $log{xy} = log{x} + log{y}$, how would one take the 'derivative' of this?



To be more clear,



$log{xy} = log{x} + log{y}$ (property of $log$)



$D(log{xy}) = D(log{x} + log{y})$ (i) (Take derivative on both sides)



Now, $D(log{x} + log{y}) = D(log{x}) + D(log{y})$ (ii) (Derivative of sum is sum of derivatives)



Combining (i) and (ii): $D(log{xy}) = D(log{x}) + D(log{y})$ (iii)



Implies: $frac{1}{xy} = frac{1}{x} + frac{1}{y}$ (Evaluate derivative of logarithm using $D(log{x}) = frac{1}{x}$



$frac{1}{xy} = frac{1}{x} + frac{1}{y}$ looks false to me; e.g. while $log{6}$ does equal $log{2} + log{3}$, $frac{1}{6}$ does not equal $frac{1}{2} + frac{1}{3}$.



My first guess was that the issue was related to what variable I take the derivative with respect to, but I'd like to understand this a little more formally if someone could guide me.



What's going wrong in this example?










share|cite|improve this question















Given the property of the logarithm that $log{xy} = log{x} + log{y}$, how would one take the 'derivative' of this?



To be more clear,



$log{xy} = log{x} + log{y}$ (property of $log$)



$D(log{xy}) = D(log{x} + log{y})$ (i) (Take derivative on both sides)



Now, $D(log{x} + log{y}) = D(log{x}) + D(log{y})$ (ii) (Derivative of sum is sum of derivatives)



Combining (i) and (ii): $D(log{xy}) = D(log{x}) + D(log{y})$ (iii)



Implies: $frac{1}{xy} = frac{1}{x} + frac{1}{y}$ (Evaluate derivative of logarithm using $D(log{x}) = frac{1}{x}$



$frac{1}{xy} = frac{1}{x} + frac{1}{y}$ looks false to me; e.g. while $log{6}$ does equal $log{2} + log{3}$, $frac{1}{6}$ does not equal $frac{1}{2} + frac{1}{3}$.



My first guess was that the issue was related to what variable I take the derivative with respect to, but I'd like to understand this a little more formally if someone could guide me.



What's going wrong in this example?







real-analysis calculus logarithms






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edited yesterday









David G. Stork

9,93521232




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asked yesterday









user2192320

473




473












  • Like the comment above said- you can’t take derivatives with respect to all different variables and expect them to be equal.
    – MathIsLife12
    yesterday










  • (This comment was from me -- deleted when reading the fact that ayt the end of your question you acknowledged something was sketchy in the variables you differentiated with respect to. Essentially, I was saying you were "differentiating simultaneously wrt 3 variables," in different places: $xy$, $x$, $y$ -- and that's not allowed.)
    – Clement C.
    yesterday












  • Thanks guys; this clears things up! I appreciate the fast responses.
    – user2192320
    yesterday










  • After you ask a question here, if you get an acceptable answer, you should "accept" the answer by clicking the check mark $checkmark$ next to it. This scores points for you and for the person who answered your question. You can find out more about accepting answers here: How do I accept an answer?, Why should we accept answers?, What should I do if someone answers my question?.
    – John Doe
    yesterday


















  • Like the comment above said- you can’t take derivatives with respect to all different variables and expect them to be equal.
    – MathIsLife12
    yesterday










  • (This comment was from me -- deleted when reading the fact that ayt the end of your question you acknowledged something was sketchy in the variables you differentiated with respect to. Essentially, I was saying you were "differentiating simultaneously wrt 3 variables," in different places: $xy$, $x$, $y$ -- and that's not allowed.)
    – Clement C.
    yesterday












  • Thanks guys; this clears things up! I appreciate the fast responses.
    – user2192320
    yesterday










  • After you ask a question here, if you get an acceptable answer, you should "accept" the answer by clicking the check mark $checkmark$ next to it. This scores points for you and for the person who answered your question. You can find out more about accepting answers here: How do I accept an answer?, Why should we accept answers?, What should I do if someone answers my question?.
    – John Doe
    yesterday
















Like the comment above said- you can’t take derivatives with respect to all different variables and expect them to be equal.
– MathIsLife12
yesterday




Like the comment above said- you can’t take derivatives with respect to all different variables and expect them to be equal.
– MathIsLife12
yesterday












(This comment was from me -- deleted when reading the fact that ayt the end of your question you acknowledged something was sketchy in the variables you differentiated with respect to. Essentially, I was saying you were "differentiating simultaneously wrt 3 variables," in different places: $xy$, $x$, $y$ -- and that's not allowed.)
– Clement C.
yesterday






(This comment was from me -- deleted when reading the fact that ayt the end of your question you acknowledged something was sketchy in the variables you differentiated with respect to. Essentially, I was saying you were "differentiating simultaneously wrt 3 variables," in different places: $xy$, $x$, $y$ -- and that's not allowed.)
– Clement C.
yesterday














Thanks guys; this clears things up! I appreciate the fast responses.
– user2192320
yesterday




Thanks guys; this clears things up! I appreciate the fast responses.
– user2192320
yesterday












After you ask a question here, if you get an acceptable answer, you should "accept" the answer by clicking the check mark $checkmark$ next to it. This scores points for you and for the person who answered your question. You can find out more about accepting answers here: How do I accept an answer?, Why should we accept answers?, What should I do if someone answers my question?.
– John Doe
yesterday




After you ask a question here, if you get an acceptable answer, you should "accept" the answer by clicking the check mark $checkmark$ next to it. This scores points for you and for the person who answered your question. You can find out more about accepting answers here: How do I accept an answer?, Why should we accept answers?, What should I do if someone answers my question?.
– John Doe
yesterday










2 Answers
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21














Yes, as you noted, it matters which variable you take a derivative with respect to. Since we have two variables, if we assume they are independent, then we need to use partial derivatives. If we chose $x$, then $$frac{partial log(xy)}{partial x}=frac{y}{xy}=frac1x$$and $$frac{partial}{partial x}(log x+log y)=frac1x+0=frac1x$$So the answers agree. (the same thing happens if we chose $y$ instead).



Alternatively, you could take a total derivative. $$mathrm d(log xy)=frac{partial log xy}{partial x}mathrm dx+frac{partial log xy}{partial y}mathrm dy=frac1xmathrm dx+frac1y mathrm dy$$This agrees with $$d(log x+log y)=frac1xmathrm dx+frac1y mathrm dy$$
So there are no inconsistencies.






share|cite|improve this answer





















  • Thank you for the quick response; this is my favorite answer posted so far.
    – user2192320
    yesterday










  • No problem, happy to help!
    – John Doe
    yesterday








  • 2




    @user2192320 you may want to accept it then by clicking the tick mark on the left of the answer.
    – Ruslan
    23 hours ago



















10














The issue is that your differential operator $D$ does not behave in the way you think it does!
$$
D(log(xy))=frac{1}{xy}D(xy)=frac{1}{xy}(ydx+xdy)=frac{1}{x}dx+frac{1}{y}dy=D(log(x))+D(log(y))
$$

At no point in this computation do we actually have $frac{1}{xy}=frac{1}{x}+frac{1}{y}$ -- we are working with differentials, and not derivatives.






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    2 Answers
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    2 Answers
    2






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    active

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    21














    Yes, as you noted, it matters which variable you take a derivative with respect to. Since we have two variables, if we assume they are independent, then we need to use partial derivatives. If we chose $x$, then $$frac{partial log(xy)}{partial x}=frac{y}{xy}=frac1x$$and $$frac{partial}{partial x}(log x+log y)=frac1x+0=frac1x$$So the answers agree. (the same thing happens if we chose $y$ instead).



    Alternatively, you could take a total derivative. $$mathrm d(log xy)=frac{partial log xy}{partial x}mathrm dx+frac{partial log xy}{partial y}mathrm dy=frac1xmathrm dx+frac1y mathrm dy$$This agrees with $$d(log x+log y)=frac1xmathrm dx+frac1y mathrm dy$$
    So there are no inconsistencies.






    share|cite|improve this answer





















    • Thank you for the quick response; this is my favorite answer posted so far.
      – user2192320
      yesterday










    • No problem, happy to help!
      – John Doe
      yesterday








    • 2




      @user2192320 you may want to accept it then by clicking the tick mark on the left of the answer.
      – Ruslan
      23 hours ago
















    21














    Yes, as you noted, it matters which variable you take a derivative with respect to. Since we have two variables, if we assume they are independent, then we need to use partial derivatives. If we chose $x$, then $$frac{partial log(xy)}{partial x}=frac{y}{xy}=frac1x$$and $$frac{partial}{partial x}(log x+log y)=frac1x+0=frac1x$$So the answers agree. (the same thing happens if we chose $y$ instead).



    Alternatively, you could take a total derivative. $$mathrm d(log xy)=frac{partial log xy}{partial x}mathrm dx+frac{partial log xy}{partial y}mathrm dy=frac1xmathrm dx+frac1y mathrm dy$$This agrees with $$d(log x+log y)=frac1xmathrm dx+frac1y mathrm dy$$
    So there are no inconsistencies.






    share|cite|improve this answer





















    • Thank you for the quick response; this is my favorite answer posted so far.
      – user2192320
      yesterday










    • No problem, happy to help!
      – John Doe
      yesterday








    • 2




      @user2192320 you may want to accept it then by clicking the tick mark on the left of the answer.
      – Ruslan
      23 hours ago














    21












    21








    21






    Yes, as you noted, it matters which variable you take a derivative with respect to. Since we have two variables, if we assume they are independent, then we need to use partial derivatives. If we chose $x$, then $$frac{partial log(xy)}{partial x}=frac{y}{xy}=frac1x$$and $$frac{partial}{partial x}(log x+log y)=frac1x+0=frac1x$$So the answers agree. (the same thing happens if we chose $y$ instead).



    Alternatively, you could take a total derivative. $$mathrm d(log xy)=frac{partial log xy}{partial x}mathrm dx+frac{partial log xy}{partial y}mathrm dy=frac1xmathrm dx+frac1y mathrm dy$$This agrees with $$d(log x+log y)=frac1xmathrm dx+frac1y mathrm dy$$
    So there are no inconsistencies.






    share|cite|improve this answer












    Yes, as you noted, it matters which variable you take a derivative with respect to. Since we have two variables, if we assume they are independent, then we need to use partial derivatives. If we chose $x$, then $$frac{partial log(xy)}{partial x}=frac{y}{xy}=frac1x$$and $$frac{partial}{partial x}(log x+log y)=frac1x+0=frac1x$$So the answers agree. (the same thing happens if we chose $y$ instead).



    Alternatively, you could take a total derivative. $$mathrm d(log xy)=frac{partial log xy}{partial x}mathrm dx+frac{partial log xy}{partial y}mathrm dy=frac1xmathrm dx+frac1y mathrm dy$$This agrees with $$d(log x+log y)=frac1xmathrm dx+frac1y mathrm dy$$
    So there are no inconsistencies.







    share|cite|improve this answer












    share|cite|improve this answer



    share|cite|improve this answer










    answered yesterday









    John Doe

    10.4k11135




    10.4k11135












    • Thank you for the quick response; this is my favorite answer posted so far.
      – user2192320
      yesterday










    • No problem, happy to help!
      – John Doe
      yesterday








    • 2




      @user2192320 you may want to accept it then by clicking the tick mark on the left of the answer.
      – Ruslan
      23 hours ago


















    • Thank you for the quick response; this is my favorite answer posted so far.
      – user2192320
      yesterday










    • No problem, happy to help!
      – John Doe
      yesterday








    • 2




      @user2192320 you may want to accept it then by clicking the tick mark on the left of the answer.
      – Ruslan
      23 hours ago
















    Thank you for the quick response; this is my favorite answer posted so far.
    – user2192320
    yesterday




    Thank you for the quick response; this is my favorite answer posted so far.
    – user2192320
    yesterday












    No problem, happy to help!
    – John Doe
    yesterday






    No problem, happy to help!
    – John Doe
    yesterday






    2




    2




    @user2192320 you may want to accept it then by clicking the tick mark on the left of the answer.
    – Ruslan
    23 hours ago




    @user2192320 you may want to accept it then by clicking the tick mark on the left of the answer.
    – Ruslan
    23 hours ago











    10














    The issue is that your differential operator $D$ does not behave in the way you think it does!
    $$
    D(log(xy))=frac{1}{xy}D(xy)=frac{1}{xy}(ydx+xdy)=frac{1}{x}dx+frac{1}{y}dy=D(log(x))+D(log(y))
    $$

    At no point in this computation do we actually have $frac{1}{xy}=frac{1}{x}+frac{1}{y}$ -- we are working with differentials, and not derivatives.






    share|cite|improve this answer








    New contributor




    ItsJustTranscendenceBro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.























      10














      The issue is that your differential operator $D$ does not behave in the way you think it does!
      $$
      D(log(xy))=frac{1}{xy}D(xy)=frac{1}{xy}(ydx+xdy)=frac{1}{x}dx+frac{1}{y}dy=D(log(x))+D(log(y))
      $$

      At no point in this computation do we actually have $frac{1}{xy}=frac{1}{x}+frac{1}{y}$ -- we are working with differentials, and not derivatives.






      share|cite|improve this answer








      New contributor




      ItsJustTranscendenceBro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.





















        10












        10








        10






        The issue is that your differential operator $D$ does not behave in the way you think it does!
        $$
        D(log(xy))=frac{1}{xy}D(xy)=frac{1}{xy}(ydx+xdy)=frac{1}{x}dx+frac{1}{y}dy=D(log(x))+D(log(y))
        $$

        At no point in this computation do we actually have $frac{1}{xy}=frac{1}{x}+frac{1}{y}$ -- we are working with differentials, and not derivatives.






        share|cite|improve this answer








        New contributor




        ItsJustTranscendenceBro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









        The issue is that your differential operator $D$ does not behave in the way you think it does!
        $$
        D(log(xy))=frac{1}{xy}D(xy)=frac{1}{xy}(ydx+xdy)=frac{1}{x}dx+frac{1}{y}dy=D(log(x))+D(log(y))
        $$

        At no point in this computation do we actually have $frac{1}{xy}=frac{1}{x}+frac{1}{y}$ -- we are working with differentials, and not derivatives.







        share|cite|improve this answer








        New contributor




        ItsJustTranscendenceBro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer






        New contributor




        ItsJustTranscendenceBro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









        answered yesterday









        ItsJustTranscendenceBro

        1712




        1712




        New contributor




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        New contributor





        ItsJustTranscendenceBro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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        ItsJustTranscendenceBro is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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